Prep School Curriculum

Central to our philosophy, we promote a love of learning, intellectual curiosity, and joy in discovery. Our curriculum is creative and seeks to broaden the experience of our children and to make them independent in approach and wholly engaged in the world around them.

There is a core of English, mathematics and science. We build on the key skills that our children need using the most up-to-date teaching methods to enable them to thrive. Where appropriate, our curriculum is linked to embed key skills within all the subjects and enable individual monitoring of our children’s progress.

We emphasise the importance of reading from an early age and all pupils have weekly English reading lessons in our Prep library that encourages debate, understanding and inference. Literacy is also enhanced using our pupil Reading Champions and reading scheme, and we have visiting authors and workshop speakers to further inspire a love of reading.

Mathematics is taught with the aim of challenging our pupils in all aspects of their learning. Termly assessments monitor our pupil’s progress in English and mathematics, and support is given when needed.

History, Geography, PSHE, outdoor learning and Religious Studies are taught as separate subjects and the topics taught are enhanced through trips and workshops in school. We believe in an experiential approach, with the children learning through seeing and doing. Drama is enhanced by the additional clubs and performances that there are throughout Prep. The PSHE curriculum nurtures and supports the pupils in their understanding of the world around them, and as well as being taught discreetly, its learnings are woven across the entirety of school life.

French is taught from Reception as a specialist subject to build in linguistic skills. The children are introduced to other languages through various clubs such as Spanish and Mandarin.

We also continue with the outdoor education provided by the Pre-Prep that continues from Year 3-6. Residential trips in Years 4, 5 and 6 also support their development of greater independence.

The Prep School has a recently refurbished and extended library for the use of children in Years 3 to 6. Weekly library lessons take places for all classes as well as the Chatterbooks and Reading Champion groups. The Prep librarian administers the Accelerated Reader programme in the Prep School, whilst the Head of English leads a reading award initiative for all pupils. All parents are guided as to how to support their children with their reading and a love of literature at home.

Our curriculum is therefore broad and enables our children to taste a wide variety of subjects but also allows them to build in the key skills that they will need later. It is supported throughout by the additional experiences of workshops, exhibitions, theatre groups, museums, performances, plays and concerts that bring the learning alive.

Related Content